Today is week two of a three week readalong of Seanan McGuire’s The Winter Long (October Daye #8).  Today I am hosting the questions – and they’re a big mess which totally reflects my brain after reading the last chapters.  The Goodreads page link is here.  Feel free to join in or just jump into the discussion in the comments and be aware that spoilers will be lurking below for not only this book but for the previous books in the series.  If you haven’t started reading the Toby Daye series and you like urban fantasy then I strongly recommend this series to you.

Wow, what is going on around here! I think this week I’m more puzzled than ever not to mention the emotion! I’m all over the place. The questions are incoherent I’m afraid:

Firstly, The Luidaeg said that Toby’s mother had told her to beware The Lady of the Lake, but to be more afraid of Morgana. So we know a little more about the Lady of the Lake (I think) – but who is Morgana. So much seems to be wrapped up in the fairytales or myths and legends we have already heard of. What do you make of it all?

All these elements of fairytales and folklore that are creeping into the story really fascinate me.  Clearly the Lady of the Lake is all wrapped up in the Arthurian tales – I thought Morgana was Arthurs half sister and adversary in the old tales.  The Lady of the Lake is sometimes known as Viviene amongst many other versions of the name. Then we have this whole Snow White issue with Winterrose being Snow White – so not exactly the nice version of our fairytales though.  She makes use of the part of the story where Snow white sleeps to recover (or in the tale sleeps with an apple lodged in her throat) – I wonder who is going to play the role of Arthur – or the Wicked Queen.  Actually, I love that McGuire is twisting these tales for the purpose of her fae to infer that our stories have all been invoked by the fae living amongst us – just slightly different versions that those that we are familiar with.  I love this aspect of the story where McGuire builds up the legend of the fae living amongst us.

The Luidaeg – oh my giddy aunt. How could this have happened! The Luidaeg is the one who every one is afraid of – how can this have happened! Is her attacker so very powerful, is it because of the geas? How do you think the Luidaeg will react to Toby saving her life (well, bringing her back from the dead) and the Court of the Cats giving her a safe haven?

OMFG Noooooooo!  I could weep!!  What is going on here.  Who could do this to the Luidaeg.  I confess I don’t understand it at all.   I mean, obviously at the moment we don’t know who attacked the Luidaeg although it would be easy to infer certain characters.  And then Toby to the rescue – give that woman a cape!  I wonder what the Luidaeg will make of all her new allies – so, she’s obviously got more friends than her prickly demeanour really portrays.  I wonder how she’ll feel about all this warm cuddliness surrounding her – she’ll probably eat somebody’s head or something!  I’m hoping that she’s going to turn all badass – I want to see the Luidaeg in motion – put Winterrose back in her place!

So, as things have moved on it appears that maybe Simon, in a very odd ‘I will turn you into a tree’ fashion maybe did think he was helping Toby. When he was told the Luidaeg was dead he said that he was too late. It all points to the fact that maybe he was trying to help – do you think that is the case?

I really can’t figure him out – clearly he is still working for Winterrose isn’t he??  Is he scared of her too?  Why has she got everyone under her power somehow.  In some ways he comes across as crazy but maybe trying to help – like giving Toby the flower clues.  But then at the back of my mind I think was he helping or not – it seems that he keeps leading Toby straight to Winterrose!  And, to get back to the point in the first question – turning Toby into a tree – does that remind anybody of Apollo and Daphne – sorry just thought I’d chuck that in there!

Eira Rosynhwry, Evening Winterrose – (and can I say I NEVER saw that coming) what is she up to??

I really didn’t see that coming. It now makes me feel like I have to go back to the first books and read them again with this knowledge.  So, Winterrose is behind it all – she’s First Born – and why oh why would she want Toby dead?  Is this all about Armandine – is there a man between the two of them, why did they hate each other – did Armandine take her sister’s favourite dress and never return it?  I have no ideas.  But then, after Toby recovered from her fishy period Winterrose was her friend – or at least helped her, helped her back into the land of the fae even by cursing her.  I’m confused!

Finally, the First Born – of which Evening Winterrose is one – what sort of impact is this going to have on their children? Will it turn fae against fae? Why would one of the firstborn be hiding in plain sight?

I can’t figure out what Winterrose’s long game is. What does she want?  Was she involved with the Queen of the Mists then – why would she want Rayseline and Luna to be kidnapped? It feels like there’s a lot of bad blood between the First Born and memories are long.

How do you think Toby is going to walk away from this situation – people conflicted, Sylvester seeming to be in a trance! What next?

Why is everyone under a trance, well everyone except Etienne??  And is this going to cause some sort of rift between the fae – the children of the First Born – depending on who their First Born just so happens to be.

As you can see, I have questions upon questions and very little by way of answers.  Everybody – chuck me a bone now, come on, put me out of your misery!